Is Collenette nearing the end of the road?

Categories

OTTAWA, Ont. — David Collenette’s four years spent behind the transport minister’s desk make him thelongest-serving person in the post in nearly 50 years, but that may sson change.

Rumors are swirling around Parliment Hill that he’s about to accept an appointment as high commissioner to Britain, but before he goes Collenette is ramping up for one final run at authoring a national transportation policy.

“I’m looking for money,” he tells everyone he meets.

And he’s looking at everything from regulatory and tax regimes to safety and environmental standards to the competitive implications of a massive highway program announced in the U.S. It may be left to someone else to ensure the ‘I’s get dotted and the Ts get crossed, but they’ll at least be working off the Collenetteblueprint.

As the twilight of his political career nears, what do Canadians really have to show this time? His regular attempts squeeze highway cash from his cabinet collegues have chronically run into spending restraints or other causes with greater public appeal.

Perhaps his tenure is best known for the debacle of the airline merger.

Truck News

Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry. All posts by Truck News